“Racing: Rain stalls hot rod qualifying - Duluth News Tribune” plus 4 more

Racing: Rain stalls hot rod qualifying - Duluth News Tribune
Excitement, drama, action, tension—all part of hillclimb - Journal
Top motorcyles racers will guest instruct at Yamaha school - Salt Lake Tribune
Rain delays racing at BIR - Duluth News Tribune
A motor sport for ‘the Average Joe’ - Baytown Sun

Racing: Rain stalls hot rod qualifying - Duluth News Tribune

Posted: 15 Aug 2009 10:11 PM PDT

Drag racers thrive on speed, so when rain put an early end to Saturday's qualifying at the 28th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, Greg Anderson felt cheated out of some fun.

Hot, humid conditions made Friday's qualifying slow, but the temperature dropped 20 degrees and was in the low 70s on Saturday afternoon, close to optimal for going fast. Anderson, a Pro Stock driver originally from Duluth, wanted to see just how fast he could go after covering the quarter mile in 6.708 seconds at 204.91 mph in Saturday's early session, nearly a mile per hour faster than the previous day (a big deal by Pro Stock standards, where a tenth of a second can be the difference between first and last).

Anderson's elapsed time places him third behind top qualifier Mike Edwards (6.694, 205.35) and Allen Johnson (6.701, 204.98), and one spot ahead of teammate Jason Line (6.722, 204.91), as final eliminations begin at

11 a.m. today, as scheduled.

"We're racers, so we always want to go faster, so it's unfortunate we didn't get another chance to do that, but we're all in the same boat," Anderson said. "We're basically going to have to make the same adjustments for [today] because this is what we think the weather will be like."

Morgan Lucas (3.868, 307.16) of Brownsburg, Ind., holds the top spot in Top Fuel, Mike Neff (4.126, 304.46) of Yorba Linda, Calif., leads in Funny Car and Hector Arana (7.048, 187.52) of Milltown, Ind., is the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Race officials hoped to complete another qualifying session late Saturday afternoon, and crews began clearing water from the track with brooms, blowers, squeegees and a power sweeper. Fans gradually started trickling back to the bleachers, and the final round of qualifying was just getting under way when the rain resumed. Officials announced at 6 p.m. that qualifying would be halted.

Today's forecast calls for a high of 70 with a 30 percent chance of rain, better than the muggy conditions that greeted drivers on Friday.

"That was tough," Anderson said of Friday. "When it gets hot like that, the racetrack goes away and the motor just can't breathe. You've got your hands full trying to make the cars run faster, and it takes a little bit of the fun out of it. You feel like you're being held back. It's like you've got a banana stuck in the tailpipe."

Ideally, if they have to face each other, Anderson and Line prefer doing it in the final, as they did three weeks ago when Line edged Anderson in Sonoma, Calif. Being seeded No. 3 and

No. 4, respectively, means they can't face each other until then as the 16-car field is seeded according to qualifying, with No. 1 taking on No. 16, No. 2 taking on

No. 15, and so on.

"Jason and I like being on opposite sides of the bracket," Anderson said. "That's our goal every week, so at least that held up. If we would have had another qualifying round, we could have messed that up. We should be happy with that, but we're racers, and we always want more."

*?The NHRA Nationals came to an abrupt end Saturday for five members of the Line family from Wright. Brothers Lance and Ben bowed out in the opening round of Stock eliminations, while family patriarch Lawrence, mother Maxine and 2006 Pro Stock champion Jason exited in round two. Jason Line, who was the No. 1 qualifier in K Stock Automatic, was driving friend Peter Boslovitch's 1980 Chevy Malibu. Boslovitch, who was diagnosed with bone cancer about two months ago, asked Line last week if he could drive his car at BIR.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Excitement, drama, action, tension—all part of hillclimb - Journal

Posted: 15 Aug 2009 08:52 PM PDT

Article Photos

Fact Box

If You Go:

What: 2009 AMA National Amateur Motorcycle Hillclimb Championship

When: starts 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 & 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16

Where: Flying Dutchmen Cycle Club at the club's grounds, located 2 1/2 miles east of junction of State Highways 15 & 68

Admission: $10 per day or $15 for a weekend pass

NEW ULM - You hear the motorcycle's engine revving up at the bottom of the 200-foot hill, you look around and see all the fans who are waiting for whatever happens next -then in a rush of speed the rider flies up the hill.

It is the excitement, the drama, the action, the tension, the specatators, the passion along with the committment of the motorcyclists - that all becomes part of the 2009 AMA National Amateur Motorcycle Hillclimb Championship. The annual event is being sponsored this year by the Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club and held at the club's grounds located 2 1/2 miles east of junction of State Highways 15 & 68.

About 3,000 people are expected this weekend for this event. The hillclimb is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

"We're very pleased to bring the national hillclimb championship up here," said AMA Racing Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant, of Pickerington, Ohio. "Great fans, a great facility ... It's (Flying Dutchmen Motorcyle Club) a long-standing AMA-afiliated motorcycle club."

The hillclimb has drawn people from all over the country with the number of entrants totaling 416 people, said Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club Member Jack Grausam who serves as one of three co-chairs for the event.

Folks have been coming from places as far away as West Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Riders, who have paid five times the amount that they would pay to register for a local climb, began showing up early on in the week.

"It's truly a national event," said Grausam. "It's just a continuous show all day. People can come out for a few hours and definitely get their money's worth."

Motorcyclists, who range in ages from five years old to 50-plus, compete both days in classes. They race up the club's 200-foot hill trying to get the fastest time - some have been making it in four seconds or less.

"This is exciting," said Flying Dutchmen Motorcycle Club Treasurer Les Stadick.

Lana Chafin, of Prestonsburg, Ky. traveled an 18-hour drive to show her support for her sister Bertha Wright and other members of her family who race in this national hillclimb.

"We travel all over ... we go to almost all the nationals," said Chafin. "We're all a close family."

Their family races on the Copperhead Ridge hill back home in Prestonsburg, said Chafin.

On Saturday Cody Raines, who is eight years old, was the first child ever to make it to the top of the hill in the 50 class, according to his mother Jonni Raines. Cody and Jonni are also from Prestonsburg.

"Hillclimbing comes first to Cody," said Jonni. "That's what he wants to do."

There will be a trophy presentation set for a half hour after the conclusion of the hillclimb today.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Top motorcyles racers will guest instruct at Yamaha school - Salt Lake Tribune

Posted: 15 Aug 2009 09:42 PM PDT

Some of the world's top motorcycle racers -- past and present -- will serve as guest instructors at the Yamaha Champions Riding School at Miller Motorsports Park through the end of September, track officials have announced.

The list of guest instructors, who will join the regular five-person staff at the riding school, includes Scott Russell and Brandon Currie (Aug. 18); Ben Spies (Aug. 24); Josh Hayes and Melissa Paris (Sept. 22-23) and Ben Bostrom (Sept. 28-29).

"The Yamaha Champions Riding School helps anyone learn to ride the same way the best in the world ride," said Nick Ienatsch , the lead instructor at Miller Motorsports Park.

"Having guest instructors who have won at the highest levels of motorcycle racing brings that experience closer to the students and provides an experience most enthusiasts can only imagine."

To learn more about the Yamaha Champions Riding School, log on to MMPSchools.com or call Daniel Short at 435-277-8799.

Husband and wife post a win

The husband and wife team of Martin and Melanie Snow of Pleasant Grove scored a two-lap win recently during the American Le Mans Series' Acura Sports Car Challenge at Lexington, Ohio.

The win was the second in three tries this season for the Snows, who compete in the series' new Challenge Class. They also prevailed in the Utah Grand Prix

at Miller Motorsports Park in May.

The Ohio win was nearly their third straight, but a late mechanical failure while in the lead cost the Snows a chance to win in July at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut.

RMR results

In the recent Maverik Clash of the Titans monster truck event at Rocky Mountain Raceways, the winners were Bounty Hunter and King Krunch.

USCA Sprint Cars also competed in the two nights of racing.

In the first main event, Mike Murgoitio took advantage of a spin-out by leader Ryan Burdett on the 21st lap to rally for a victory.

In the second main event, Lynn Hardy came from behind and won after leaders Johnny Luttmer and Michael Haddenham crashed late in the race.

luhm@sltrib.com

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Rain delays racing at BIR - Duluth News Tribune

Posted: 15 Aug 2009 01:43 PM PDT

A light, persistent rain put an early end to qualifying today at the 28th annual National Hot Rod Association Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

Race officials hoped to complete another qualifying session later this afternoon, and as of 2:40 p.m., crews began clearing water from the track with brooms, blowers, squeegees and a power sweeper, and fans gradually started trickling back to the bleachers. The final round of qualifying was just getting under way when the rain resumed, and officials announced at 6 p.m. that qualifying would be halted and final eliminations would begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, as scheduled.

"We're racers, so we always want to go faster, so it's unfortunate we didn't get another chance to do that, but we're all in the same boat," said Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson, a Duluth native.

The top three in Pro Stock qualifying remain the same after today's early session, with Mike Edwards of Coweta, Okla., holding down the top spot with a 6.694-second pass at 205.35 mph, followed by Allen Johnson (6.701, 204.98) and Anderson (6.708, 204.91). Anderson's teammate, Jason Line, moved up two spots to fourth with a 6.722-second pass at 204.91 mph.

Ideally, if they have to face each other, Anderson and Line prefer doing it in the final, as they did three weeks ago when Line edged Anderson in Sonoma, Calif. Being seeded No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, means they can't face each other until the semifinals of the 16-car elimination bracket.

"Jason and I like being on opposites sides of the bracket," Anderson said. "That's our goal every week, so at least that held up. If we would have had another qualifying round, we could have goofed that up."

Morgan Lucas (3.868, 307.16) of Brownsburg, Ind., holds the top spot in Top Fuel, Mike Neff (4.126, 304.46) of Yorba Linda, Calif., leads in Funny Car and Hector Arana (7.048, 186.87) of Milltown, Ind., is the No. 1 qualifier in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

A motor sport for ‘the Average Joe’ - Baytown Sun

Posted: 15 Aug 2009 06:36 PM PDT

Steve Isaacs finished his second 16-lap race of the day and prepared to watch his 12-year-old son Zack compete in a 30-minute endurance event Saturday afternoon.

The early afternoon sun was beating down on the man-made lake behind Genes Power Sports out at the intersection of Interstate 10 and the Grand Parkway.

Besides the smell of engine exhaust of the racing watercraft at the R5 WaterX Racing Tour regionals, there was enough humidity in the air at the to send everyone not on the water running for some shade and a breeze.

But Isaacs, 35, said he felt like a 20-year-old.

I wish Id have started earlier, said Isaacs, a native of Beaumont who has already wrapped up the regional points title in his specialty, the Pro-Am Sports Spec, and leads the national points race in that category, as well.

Baytowns event continues today, with racing between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

He raced in other two-day events like this one in Beaumont, Madisonville and on Lake Lewisville. Each days racing counts as separate events, allowing the racers to complete eight competitions in only four weekends.

Isaacs actually began competing in 1989 and competed in the world finals in 1993, but then he and his race team of buddies disbanded.

We took a 12-year break and started back in 2007, he said. Everybody had a job and kids to raise, but now were back in it for the long haul til we cant do it anymore.

The thrill of racing Jet Skis, Sea-Doos and Waverunners on oval and slalom courses on lakes is in Isaacs blood.

Its one of the cheapest motor sports you can get in for the Average Joe, he said. Its the best adrenaline rush Ive ever had.

The points racer in a class for 700- to 800-cc two-stroke engines introduced his son to the sport as soon as he was able and Zack has been competing in sanctioned races since he was 10 years old.

The younger Isaacs is the points leader in the Junior 10-12 ski stock class.

Its a great sport for the family, said the elder Isaacs, who stepped away from the crew of family and friends who were lounging under an awning between a row of trailers to haul the personal watercraft. Youve got family, barbecue and music.

The top regional qualifiers advance to the APBA nationals in Nashville over the Labor Day weekend and the best there go on to Lake Havasu City, Ariz., for the world championships.

We practice about every weekend, Isaacs said. Sometimes well go out twice a week. Ive been over here twice to get familiar with the course.

Water is water, but no two lakes are the same.

You have to study the depth, the water condition, the wind, everything, he said. This sport is about knowing your watercraft and also being able to work the waves and the chop.

Rider abilitys pretty important and getting off to a good start when the rubber band starting line pops is paramount.

In this sport, the start is make-or-break sometimes, Isaacs said.

Sure, theres danger.

The water is a little more forgiving than a dirt motorcycle track if you fall off, Isaacs said. Its also a lot cooler.

But one look at the knot below the racers left knee will tell you about the danger. He said another driver ran right into his leg during a 1994 race and snapped his fibula.

Its like any racing, he said. Injury is a chance you take, but I think the spirit of the competition outweighs the risk.